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Bigger screen, better Ford Sync

With the 2014 model, the Fiesta will go from an undistinguished 4-inch monochrome LCD to a 6.5-inch color LCD. As well, it gets the latest enhancements to the Ford Sync music and phone control software. Which version? We’ve stopped asking as Ford issues improvements and bug fixes to Sync every half year or so, or every time Consumer Reports reviews another Ford and disses Sync and MyFord Touch. (You can set your watch by it.) This will be more than a bug fix enhancement, though. The screen supports not just Sync (basic phone and music features) but MyFord Touch and a navigation option.

Alternatively, for Android phone users looking for cheap navi, Ford chose Telenav and its Telenav Scout software (free to $25 a year) to work over its AppLink service. You can use the car’s voice input buttons to search for a POI or set up a route, then play the spoken route instructions through the car speakers. Want Scout’s moving maps on the Fiesta’s LCD? For now, mount your phone where you can see it. And it’s currently Android only.

Should you buy? (If you could buy)

The car I drove was a production-level Ford Fiesta in European trim with slight differences from the car coming to America: summer tires for Europeans instead of all-seasons, and a suspension tuned (likely firmer than the US gets) to work with tires. The US version arrives here in late 2013, so if your old car is dying this month, the 1.0-liter EcoBoost Fiesta won’t be a solution. For everyone else, keep watch: It’s quick enough, cockpit fit and finish is superb, handling is enthusiastic, performance is adequate (the Fiesta feels faster than it is), and there is virtually no issue with engine noise or vibration. There is also no automatic transmission.

The hatchback I drove is better looking than the larger sedan. The Fiesta has a snug back seat. The larger Focus also may get the 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine (it definitely will in Europe) but for a 3,000-pound car, performance from the engine will be marginal. The Fiesta EcoBoost payback period, 4-5 years, is reasonable. The more your driving skews toward highway miles, the more efficient the Fiesta is compared to a hybrid that gets better city fuel economy. And the more miles you drive each year, the quicker your payback period. In this segment, the Honda Fit has been the car to beat for years; Ford draws closer each year. The segment also includes the Toyota Yaris and Nissan Versa that trade on low price, the Chevrolet Spark, and the Mazda2 and Hyundai Accent.

A year from now when you shop for the high-mileage Fiesta EcoBoost, don’t get seduced by the other Ford Fiesta announced in Los Angeles in a cloud of tire smoke by drifting guru Ken Block (video below). The Ford Fiesta ST adds a turbocharger to the 1.6-liter engine for 197 hp, the manual transmission is six not five speeds, and the rear drum brakes are upgraded to disc brakes. Ford estimates the ST will get 34 mpg highway, less if you light up the the tires like Ken Block.

Alexander, trivia question: Which has more microprocessors, a PC or a car? And that is why Extreme Tech covers cars and their technology: Bluetooth, iPod entertainment, Pandora in the dash, social networking (FB to phone to dash), GPS navigation on the dash or in the dash, etcetera

http://www.mrseb.co.uk/ Sebastian Anthony

BUT WHICH ONE HAS MORE JIGGERHERTZ?

https://twitter.com/xarinatan Alexander ypema

I wasn’t saying it’s wrong to do, just made a lame joke because I hadn’t seen a car review on here before and they tend to be stuffed in their own little category =p

Brian

With an engine that small I wonder if there would be empty space making it somewhat easier to work on than most modern cars, or if it’s stuffed with other equipment to make the motor run.

http://twitter.com/billhoward Bill Howard

Be easier to change the 100,000 mile spark plugs and one would be less likely to mistake the windshield washer bottle for the coolant overflow. But: It doesn’t look empty the way your uncle’s 1950s Fairlane 500 looked with a straight six and no pollution gear.

VirtualMark

Wow, the States really is behind the rest of the world when it comes to fuel economy. We have a 60mpg petrol Fiesta in the UK, also an 85mpg diesel one. What i don’t understand is why – same car, same company.

Wylie Hilliard

Two things – 1. An imperial gallon is 1.2 US gallons. 2. The standards
to evaluate efficiency in the US are different than in the UK

Wolfwar

I was about to make same comment…
40 miles = 64.37 kilometers
1 US gallon = 3.78 liters

40 mpg = 5,9 L/100 km
…not so efficient, sry

http://www.facebook.com/Psycomo Moises Negron

Sebastian the Fiesta will not be the first gasoline car sold in the US to achieve that. The Geo Metro was doing that back in 1990. Its a shame that we had cars 30 years ago getting this kind of mileage and yet we still arent seeing 60mpg or better gasoline engines.

http://twitter.com/billhoward Bill Howard

True. But this story is about cars.

Chris Shakal

I see what you did there.

http://www.facebook.com/Psycomo Moises Negron

Not sure what you consider a car but the Metro is a car(not a van/truck or suv) and is in the same class as the Fiesta. If that was a try at sarcasm then the you cant say the Metro is not a car and not say the same of the Fiesta.

http://www.facebook.com/sklathill Vincent Diamante

Times were different back then. If a Metro were built today, it would need to be built to modern safety standards, which means more weight to move around in the form of active and passive safety features.

The modern Fiesta is 900 pounds heavier than the early 90s Metro.

http://www.facebook.com/Psycomo Moises Negron

True but doesn’t change my original statement about the Fiesta not being the first US car to get 45mpg. Metros had airbags and seatbelts last I checked and the insides were not any less plastic then todays econo boxes. You are correct in that they weren’t as comfortable as todays.

http://www.facebook.com/Psycomo Moises Negron

Sebastian the Fiesta will not be the first gasoline car sold in the US to achieve that. The Geo Metro was doing that back in 1990. Its a shame that we had cars 30 years ago getting this kind of mileage and yet we still arent seeing 60mpg or better gasoline engines.

I had one of the original Honda cars, the Honda 600. It would actually get 40 mph, but they might not have had EPA fuel ratings back when it was sold. It also wasn’t very powerful, but it was fun!

Marc Guillot

In the rest of the world we would appreciate if you add international metrics units.

http://www.mrseb.co.uk/ Sebastian Anthony

Are you talking about liters instead of gallons?

Marc Guillot

Yes, liters instead of gallons and kilometers instead of miles.

http://www.mrseb.co.uk/ Sebastian Anthony

I’ll see what I can do.

Wolfwar

40 mpg = 5,9 L/100 km

Marc Guillot

Thank you.

http://www.facebook.com/enriqueflecha31 Enrique Flecha

Price?

Deep Singh

There are many questions to be asked. Why hasen’t the US required fuel economy gone up for automakers ? Its been between 20-25mpg minimum since 2002. Europe’s standards are at about 48mpg and japan is about 45mpg. Europe and Japan force automakers to produce cars that get good mpg. Search the Volkswagen Polo, 72mpg and 3.9L per 100km. Volkswagen passat diesel has set world records with 1526.36 miles and 2456.87Km on a single tank!

Farfolomew

This is such bs. Moises hit the nail on the head about cars in the 80s getting 50+ mpg. Compare today’s Smart ForTwo against the 80s Civic CRX HF. Same weight (1800lbs), similar HP engine (70hp) and the smart gets only 40mpg, where the Civic got 50, adjusted for today’s EPA test. How is that possibly considered advancement in engine technology? Now you’re claiming this Fiesta is the first car released in US to be able to achieve such high MPg, two commenters proved that otherwise. Very sloppy research. The problem is vehicles today are just too heavy and have too large of motors. You can cruise down the highway at 65mph with a 70hp engine..you don’t need the 129hp that this Fiesta has

wayne rhodes

My wife and I purchased a 2014 Fiesta sedan with 6 speed automatic, with the lite tan and black combo interior. The car came with more than enough bells and whistle’s for our likings. Free oil changes and car washes with all the cleaning chemicals for the glass and dash plus for the wheels and tires. I bought the premium insurance warranty which gives us 7 year 70 thousand bumper to bumper coverage. With barley over 1600 miles we are well pleased with our new Fiesta se model. We are seeing 37.6 mpg on the highway, and 29.7 in city stop and go and 33.4 average MPH. 0 to 60 with automatic transmission9.23

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